Technology is something I find fun, exciting, and a great way to enhance classoom lessons. I use technology every day in my classroom, some technology that I use is: The Promethean board, student lap tops, and instructional websites. I use the Promethean board to help make my lessons more exciting, and engaging. My students constantly want to use it, and it is great way to motivate them, and allow them the chance to learn in a fun way.
A great website that I found useful in my classroom is Studyisland.com. I use this tool to help my students with different benchmark skills. I can go on and set up my own class site. Here my students can log on and do the assignment that I assigned for them. This has helped my student’s review benchmarks they may need some extra practice on. Once the student has scored a 75% on a skill they have the option to do the skill again in game mode; which the student’s find a lot of fun. This site, I use inside my classroom, and I also have used it to assign homework.
How technology can help improve education by Ragan Whiteside
This article talks about how technology can help education. With so many resources available now through websites, and online tutorials, learning does not have to stop at the end of the school day. Students have the ability now to access student and teacher resources, and assignments at any time of the day. Students can also receive help or tutoring through e-mail, other website collaborations, and through online tutoring websites.
The article also discusses how money can be an issue in a great deal of schools, and with technology uses teachers can take their students on virtual field trips, download e-text books, and save paper by e-mailing parents, instead of sending home the countless amounts of paper.
In the end, technology can give teachers and students great resources, new opportunities for learning, ways to collaborate and create, and save money. Technology is a very powerful tool for education.
For my own classroom to engage students in using technology for instructional purposes they go on the computer to use the website starfall.com at center time to read books and to do fun activities on line. I also have them do research on the computer to help them with our writing project. I obviously control what website they are allowed to use. This way it prevents them getting on sites that aren’t appropriate. They use the computer for assessment purposes in my classroom to take AR tests. When they have taken 15 AR tests with a final score of 80% or higher they get to pick out of my prize box. Then the number of tests increases every time. I know that grades 3-5 use the computer program FCAT explorer for their students. They use it as a homework assignment as well as have them go to it at center time.
How Can Technology Benefit Our Students? Technology and Learning magazine by Judy Salpeter
Judy saltpeter interviewed Cheryl Lemke and this is what she had to say on how technology can motivate and engage students with technology. Technology can accelerate, enrich and deepen basic skills students should know how to do. Students will have a tendency to learn faster and with a better depth of understanding the knowledge. Technology encourages cooperative learning, new roles for learners and the ability to work by themselves. If students are engaged students learn more. If educators use more real life situations in their delivery of materials students will connect more with what you are saying in turn develop more of a concrete foundation. Technology allows students to connect to real world situations faster. Technology activities have the reason that all students will be able to succeed on their activities. This way students will have a more positive attitude and in turn treat people with more respect. Some other benefits to having technology in the classroom are doing various projects. One classroom had her students making t-shirt designs, cookbooks, letter writing, and newsletters. Technology offers a more nontraditional approach when it comes to comprehensive student assessments. A multimedia approach will have the students to be more actively engaged and have more of an application of knowledge.
The Use and Implementation of Electronic Portfolios as an Assessment and Instructional Tool
I found two great articles which discuss the importance of electronic portfolios as assessment and instructional tools in the classroom. One article focuses on college students, and the other focuses on middle school age students. Both articles cover the advantages of having students utilize electronic portfolios to improve student achievement. In addition, electronic portfolios also aide in monitoring and tracking student performance.
The first article focuses on college education students and the benefits of e-portfolios. One of the biggest benefits in utilizing electronic portfolios is that they help to log and showcase a student’s growth and professional growth development hours. In addition, they help improve a student’s technology skills. “Among the many benefits not available with traditional paper based portfolios, or other types of assessment, creating electronic portfolios changes the student’s role from being a passive learner to an active learner, planner, thinker, and designer. (Wang, 2007)” Electronic portfolios assist teachers in continuing to improve their teaching methods and practices.
The second article focuses on the use of electronic portfolios with middle school age students. The author of this article utilizes electronic portfolios in her classroom since she tries to have a “paperless” classroom. Having the students keep electronic portfolios is a concrete way for the parents to see what their children have been doing in school. For the teacher, completing progress reports was much simpler using the electronic portfolios. Since all the work was easily accessible, she cut a lot of time searching for each student’s paperwork to assign grades. The children love using technology in the classroom and are very motivated to accomplish their work using a computer. They are more excited about learning in this more engaging method.
Wang, S. (2007). Roles of students in electronic portfolio development. International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning, 3(2), 17-28.
Author: Nicole Farrell
The Use and Implementation of Electronic Portfolios as an Assessment and Instructional Tool
I have always been a firm believer in using portfolios with my students. Portfolios give the teacher, student, and parent a deep insight into the growth of the student. This growth cannot always be determined by letter grades. For me it is important for students to be apart of developing their portfolio. For each subject and/or skill, I have students pick out one thing that they best represent their understanding. Sometimes students surprise me and pick out something they did not do well on because it motivates them to work on improving that skill. I would also place items in there that I thought parents should see, like test score and benchmarking results.
I began keeping student portfolios in folders and that became very daunting. I felt like there was paper everywhere. I then began placing their work on the computer. It began by using word because that was the program we used most often for writing and projects. I then began placing their work in PowerPoint. The students were able to design and create the slides that went along with them. I am now trying to see which web-based program works best (Google Sites, Live Binders, or Voice Thread) for electronic portfolios. I do like the use of Voice Thread because I can scan or take pictures of their work, upload it to Voice Thread and then they can give a narrative (using a microphone) of why they choose that specific item. They can also discuss their level of understanding or any misunderstandings they had. I and the parents can also add comments that the students can listen to. For the items I place in the portfolio, I can add a narrative explaining what it means to the student and parent. I also have the students write a reflective paper at the end of the year for what they learned about themselves throughout the process.
For me and electronic portfolio is more of a formative and reflective assessment tool. I do not give a grade to the students for the portfolio they put together but I do ensure they have all of the required parts.
The importance of implementing evidence-based interventions
After reading “Assisting Students Struggling with Reading: Response to Intervention (RtI) and Multi-Tier Intervention in the Primary Grades”, a practice guide developed by a panel of expertise in different areas of the topic for the U.S. Department of Education, I found 5 recommendations for implementing evidence based interventions. In the primary grades students with reading difficulties may need intervention to prevent future reading failure. This guide offers specific recommendations to help educators identify students in need of intervention and implement evidence-based interventions to promote their reading achievement. It also describes how to carry out each recommendation, including how to address potential roadblocks in implementing them.
Recommendations
Recommendation Level of evidence
1. Screen all students for potential reading problems at the beginning of
the year and again in the middle of the year. Regularly monitor the
progress of students at risk for developing reading disabilities. Moderate
Tier 1 intervention/general education
2. Provide time for differentiated reading instruction for all students based
on assessments of students’ current reading level. Low
Tier 2 intervention
3. Provide intensive, systematic instruction on up to three foundational
reading skills in small groups to students who score below the benchmark
score on universal screening. Typically, these groups meet between
three and five times a week, for 20 to 40 minutes. Strong
4. Monitor the progress of tier 2 students at least once a month. Use these
data to determine whether students still require intervention. For those
students still making insufficient progress, schoolwide teams should
design a tier 3 intervention plan. Low
Tier 3 intervention
5. Provide intensive instruction on a daily basis that promotes the development
of the various components of reading proficiency to students
who show minimal progress after reasonable time in tier 2 small group
instruction (tier 3). Low
If Educators, Administrators, students, and parents follow any of these recommendaions, especially at a early age it will serve as an educational backbone that will help push the students to their academic levels, and prevent any deficiencies that may affect their reading, and problem solving abilities early on.
Best Practices – Technology
Author: Natalie Starr
Technology is something I find fun, exciting, and a great way to enhance classoom lessons. I use technology every day in my classroom, some technology that I use is: The Promethean board, student lap tops, and instructional websites. I use the Promethean board to help make my lessons more exciting, and engaging. My students constantly want to use it, and it is great way to motivate them, and allow them the chance to learn in a fun way.How technology can help improve education by Ragan Whiteside
This article talks about how technology can help education. With so many resources available now through websites, and online tutorials, learning does not have to stop at the end of the school day. Students have the ability now to access student and teacher resources, and assignments at any time of the day. Students can also receive help or tutoring through e-mail, other website collaborations, and through online tutoring websites.The article also discusses how money can be an issue in a great deal of schools, and with technology uses teachers can take their students on virtual field trips, download e-text books, and save paper by e-mailing parents, instead of sending home the countless amounts of paper.
In the end, technology can give teachers and students great resources, new opportunities for learning, ways to collaborate and create, and save money. Technology is a very powerful tool for education.
Reference:
Teach and Learning (2009) How technology can help improve education by Ragan Whitside. Retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=261Author: Katherine Miller
For my own classroom to engage students in using technology for instructional purposes they go on the computer to use the website starfall.com at center time to read books and to do fun activities on line. I also have them do research on the computer to help them with our writing project. I obviously control what website they are allowed to use. This way it prevents them getting on sites that aren’t appropriate. They use the computer for assessment purposes in my classroom to take AR tests. When they have taken 15 AR tests with a final score of 80% or higher they get to pick out of my prize box. Then the number of tests increases every time. I know that grades 3-5 use the computer program FCAT explorer for their students. They use it as a homework assignment as well as have them go to it at center time.How Can Technology Benefit Our Students? Technology and Learning magazine by Judy Salpeter
Judy saltpeter interviewed Cheryl Lemke and this is what she had to say on how technology can motivate and engage students with technology.Technology can accelerate, enrich and deepen basic skills students should know how to do. Students will have a tendency to learn faster and with a better depth of understanding the knowledge.
Technology encourages cooperative learning, new roles for learners and the ability to work by themselves.
If students are engaged students learn more. If educators use more real life situations in their delivery of materials students will connect more with what you are saying in turn develop more of a concrete foundation. Technology allows students to connect to real world situations faster.
Technology activities have the reason that all students will be able to succeed on their activities. This way students will have a more positive attitude and in turn treat people with more respect.
Some other benefits to having technology in the classroom are doing various projects. One classroom had her students making t-shirt designs, cookbooks, letter writing, and newsletters.
Technology offers a more nontraditional approach when it comes to comprehensive student assessments. A multimedia approach will have the students to be more actively engaged and have more of an application of knowledge.
Reference:
http://www.k12.hi.us/~teono/teri/benefits_of_technology.htmAuthor: Michaela Puffer
The Use and Implementation of Electronic Portfolios as an Assessment and Instructional Tool
I found two great articles which discuss the importance of electronic portfolios as assessment and instructional tools in the classroom. One article focuses on college students, and the other focuses on middle school age students. Both articles cover the advantages of having students utilize electronic portfolios to improve student achievement. In addition, electronic portfolios also aide in monitoring and tracking student performance.The first article focuses on college education students and the benefits of e-portfolios. One of the biggest benefits in utilizing electronic portfolios is that they help to log and showcase a student’s growth and professional growth development hours. In addition, they help improve a student’s technology skills. “Among the many benefits not available with traditional paper based portfolios, or other types of assessment, creating electronic portfolios changes the student’s role from being a passive learner to an active learner, planner, thinker, and designer. (Wang, 2007)” Electronic portfolios assist teachers in continuing to improve their teaching methods and practices.
The second article focuses on the use of electronic portfolios with middle school age students. The author of this article utilizes electronic portfolios in her classroom since she tries to have a “paperless” classroom. Having the students keep electronic portfolios is a concrete way for the parents to see what their children have been doing in school. For the teacher, completing progress reports was much simpler using the electronic portfolios. Since all the work was easily accessible, she cut a lot of time searching for each student’s paperwork to assign grades. The children love using technology in the classroom and are very motivated to accomplish their work using a computer. They are more excited about learning in this more engaging method.
References:
Expat Educator. (2012). Retrieved from http://expateducator.com/2012/01/01/studentelectronicportfolios-a-model/Wang, S. (2007). Roles of students in electronic portfolio development. International Journal of
Technology in Teaching and Learning, 3(2), 17-28.
Author: Nicole Farrell
The Use and Implementation of Electronic Portfolios as an Assessment and Instructional Tool
I have always been a firm believer in using portfolios with my students. Portfolios give the teacher, student, and parent a deep insight into the growth of the student. This growth cannot always be determined by letter grades. For me it is important for students to be apart of developing their portfolio. For each subject and/or skill, I have students pick out one thing that they best represent their understanding. Sometimes students surprise me and pick out something they did not do well on because it motivates them to work on improving that skill. I would also place items in there that I thought parents should see, like test score and benchmarking results.For me and electronic portfolio is more of a formative and reflective assessment tool. I do not give a grade to the students for the portfolio they put together but I do ensure they have all of the required parts.
References:
Barrett, H. C. Ph.D. (2005). White Paper: Researching Electronic Portfolios and LearnerEngagement. Retrieved from http://www.taskstream.com/reflect/whitepaper.pdf.
Author: Samaria Tisby
The importance of implementing evidence-based interventions
After reading “Assisting Students Struggling with Reading: Response to Intervention (RtI) and Multi-Tier Intervention in the Primary Grades”, a practice guide developed by a panel of expertise in different areas of the topic for the U.S. Department of Education, I found 5 recommendations for implementing evidence based interventions. In the primary grades students with reading difficulties may need intervention to prevent future reading failure. This guide offers specific recommendations to help educators identify students in need of intervention and implement evidence-based interventions to promote their reading achievement. It also describes how to carry out each recommendation, including how to address potential roadblocks in implementing them.Recommendations
Recommendation Level of evidence1. Screen all students for potential reading problems at the beginning of
the year and again in the middle of the year. Regularly monitor the
progress of students at risk for developing reading disabilities.
Moderate
Tier 1 intervention/general education
2. Provide time for differentiated reading instruction for all students based
on assessments of students’ current reading level.
Low
Tier 2 intervention
3. Provide intensive, systematic instruction on up to three foundational
reading skills in small groups to students who score below the benchmark
score on universal screening. Typically, these groups meet between
three and five times a week, for 20 to 40 minutes.
Strong
4. Monitor the progress of tier 2 students at least once a month. Use these
data to determine whether students still require intervention. For those
students still making insufficient progress, schoolwide teams should
design a tier 3 intervention plan.
Low
Tier 3 intervention
5. Provide intensive instruction on a daily basis that promotes the development
of the various components of reading proficiency to students
who show minimal progress after reasonable time in tier 2 small group
instruction (tier 3).
Low
If Educators, Administrators, students, and parents follow any of these recommendaions, especially at a early age it will serve as an educational backbone that will help push the students to their academic levels, and prevent any deficiencies that may affect their reading, and problem solving abilities early on.
Reference:
Retrieved from: Assisting Students Struggling with Reading: Response to Intervention (RtI) and Multi-Tier Intervention in the Primary Grades IES website http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/publications/practiceguides/.